Periodicals. Periodicals: Prices and Fees

Transcription

1 Periodicals: Prices and Fees 707 Periodicals Overview 1.0 Prices and Fees 2.0 Price Application and Computation 3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content 4.0 Basic Eligibility Standards 5.0 Applying for Periodicals Authorization 6.0 Qualification Categories 7.0 Mailing to Nonsubscribers or Nonrequesters 8.0 Record Keeping Standards for Publishers 9.0 Changing Title, Frequency, or Known Office of Publication 10.0 Preferred Periodicals 11.0 Basic Price Eligibility 12.0 Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Price Eligibility 13.0 Carrier Route Price Eligibility 14.0 Barcoded (Automation) Price Eligibility 15.0 Ride-Along Price Eligibility 16.0 Postage Payment 17.0 Documentation 18.0 General Mail Preparation 19.0 Bundles 20.0 Sacks and Trays 21.0 Sack and Tray Labels 22.0 Preparing Nonbarcoded (Presorted) Price Periodicals 23.0 Preparing Carrier Route Price Periodicals 24.0 Preparing Letter-Size Barcoded (Automation) Price Periodicals 25.0 Preparing Flat-Size Barcoded (Automation) Price Periodicals 26.0 Physical Criteria for Nonmachinable Flat-Size Periodicals 27.0 Combining Multiple Editions or Publications 28.0 Enter and Deposit 29.0 Destination Entry 30.0 Additional Entry

2 707 Periodicals: Prices and Fees Prices and Fees 1.1 Outside-County Including Science-of-Agriculture ADVERTISING PORTION Pound Prices [ ] [ ] Per pound or fraction: NONADVERTISING PORTION Zone Regular Science-of-Agri Regular Science-of-Agri Zone Price culture Price culture Preferred Price Discount: DDU $0.165 $0.124 DDU $0.137 $0.137 Authorized Nonprofit and DSCF DSCF Classroom publications and publications that meet the DADC DADC standards for Limited Circulation 1 & Other publications and Limited Circulation Science-of-Agriculture publications receive a discount of 5% off the total Outside-County postage excluding the postage for advertising pounds. The 5% discount does not apply to commingled nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies in excess of the 10% allowance in Piece Prices Per addressed piece: LETTERS MACHINABLE FLATS NONMACHINABLE FLATS PARCELS Bundle Level Barcoded Nonbarcoded Barcoded Nonbarcoded Barcoded Nonbarcoded 5-Digit $0.217 $0.284 $0.276 $0.284 $0.293 $0.298 $ Digit/SCF ADC MXD ADC Bundle Prices Price for each bundle containing Outside-County Periodicals mail (see for how to apply these prices): CONTAINER LEVEL Bundle Level CR/5-Digit 3-Digit/SCF ADC MXD ADC Firm $0.028 $0.046 $0.049 $0.081 Carrier Route Digit Digit/SCF ADC MXD ADC

3 Periodicals: Prices and Fees Container Prices Price for each pallet, sack, tray, or other USPS-approved container containing Outside-County Periodicals mail (see for how to apply these prices): PALLET TRAY/SACK Entry 5-Digit 3-Digit/SCF ADC CR/5-Digit 3-Digit/SCF ADC MXD ADC Destination Delivery Unit $ $ Destination SCF $ $ Destination ADC $ $ Destination BMC Origin $ Discounts Discounts for nonadvertising content, for each 1% of nonadvertising: $ per addressed piece Nonprofit Publications [ ] Authorized nonprofit publications receive a discount of 5% off the total Outside-County postage excluding the postage for advertising pounds. The 5% discount does not apply to commingled nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies in excess of the 10% allowance provided under Classroom Publications Authorized Classroom publications receive a discount of 5% off the total Outside-County postage excluding the postage for advertising pounds. The 5% discount does not apply to commingled nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies in excess of the 10% allowance provided under Limited Circulation Publications [ ] Publications, excluding Nonprofit, Classroom, and Limited Circulation Science-of-Agriculture publications receive a 5% discount off the total Outside-County postage, excluding the postage for advertising pounds, if eligible copies are mailed at In-County prices and the total number of Outside-County copies mailed for that issue is less than 5,000. Nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies claiming the Limited Circulation discount are subject to the standards in Limited Circulation Science-of-Agriculture Publications [ ] Publications meeting the requirements of receive a 5% discount off the total Outside-County postage, excluding the postage for advertising pounds, if eligible copies are mailed at In-County prices and the total number of Outside-County copies mailed for that issue is less than 5,000. Nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies claiming the Limited Circulation discount are subject to the standards in 7.0.

4 707 Periodicals: Price Application and Computation In-County Pound Prices Per pound or fraction: LETTERS, FLATS, & PARCELS Zone Price DDU $0.136 None Piece Prices Per addressed piece: AUTOMATION NONAUTOMATION Presort Level Letters Flats Letters, Flats, and Parcels Carrier Route Saturation $0.029 High Density Basic Digit $0.045 $ Digit Basic Discount Destination delivery unit discount for each addressed piece: $ Ride-Along Price Price per ride-along piece: $ Fees Per application: a. Original entry: $ b. News agent registry: $ c. Additional entry: $ d. Reentry: $ Price Application and Computation 2.1 Price Application Price Elements [ ] Postage for Periodicals mail includes a pound price charge, a piece price charge, bundle and container price charges for Outside-County mail, and any discounts for which the mail qualifies under the corresponding standards.

5 Periodicals: Price Application and Computation Applying Outside-County Piece Prices [ ] The per piece charge applies to each copy and each firm bundle in the mailing. Outside-County piece prices are based on the shape of the mailpiece (letter, flat, or parcel); the characteristics of the mailpiece (machinable or nonmachinable, see 18.4ac and 18.4ad); the application of a barcode; and the bundle presort level. Firm bundles and carrier route pieces pay separate piece prices that do not vary based on these criteria. For pieces properly prepared loose in trays, the price is based on the tray presort level. Apply piece prices for Outside-County mail as follows: a. Letters. 1. Apply the Letters Barcoded prices to pieces that meet all of the standards for automation letters in and include a barcode. 2. Apply the Letters Nonbarcoded prices to pieces that meet the standards for all letters in 201 but do not include a barcode. Apply these prices also to pieces that are barcoded but do not meet all of the automation letter standards in b. Machinable flats. 1. Apply the Machinable Flats Barcoded prices to pieces that meet all of the standards for automation flats in and include a barcode. Apply the 5-digit price also to barcoded pieces prepared under the alternative flats criteria in 26.0 and placed in 5-digit bundles. 2. Apply the Machinable Flats Nonbarcoded prices to pieces that meet all of the standards for automation flats in but do not include a barcode. c. Nonmachinable flats. 1. Apply the Nonmachinable Flats Barcoded prices to pieces that meet all of the alternative standards for flats in 26.0 and include a barcode. Exception: Barcoded pieces prepared under 26.0 and placed in 5-digit bundles pay the Machinable Flats Barcoded 5-digit price. 2. Apply the Nonmachinable Flats Nonbarcoded prices to pieces that meet all of the alternative standards for flats in 26.0 but do not include a barcode. Apply these prices also to all nonmachinable flats, whether or not a barcode is used. d. Parcels. Apply the "Parcels" prices to all parcels, whether or not a barcode is used Applying In-County Piece Prices [ ] An addressed piece can be a single individually addressed copy or a firm bundle containing unaddressed or individually addressed copies for the same address. The per piece charge is based on the number of addressed pieces (not the number of copies). For In-County mail, piece prices apply to each addressed piece, based on the sorting done by the publisher. Piece prices for automation mailings are based on the bundle level (or tray level for unbundled pieces in trays); piece prices for nonautomation mailings are based on the tray or sack level.

6 707 Periodicals: Price Application and Computation Applying Pound Price [ ] Apply pound prices to the weight of the pieces in the mailing as follows: a. Outside-County (including Science-of-Agriculture) pound prices are based on the weight of the advertising portion sent to each postal zone (as computed from the entry office) or destination entry zone, and the weight of the nonadvertising portion to a destination entry zone or a single price to all other zones. b. In-County pound prices consist of a DDU entry price and an unzoned price for eligible copies delivered to addresses within the county of publication Computing Weight of Advertising and Nonadvertising Portions [ ] The pound price charge is the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the advertising portion of copies to each destination entry and zone, plus the sum of the charges for the computed weight of the nonadvertising portion of copies to each destination entry and all other zones. The following standards apply: a. The minimum pound price charge for any zone to which copies are mailed is the 1-pound price. For example, three 2-ounce copies for a zone are subject to the minimum 1-pound charge. b. Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications with an advertising percentage that is 10% or less are considered 100% nonadvertising. When computing the pound prices and the nonadvertising adjustment, use "0" as the advertising percentage. Authorized Nonprofit and Classroom publications claiming 0% advertising must pay the nonadvertising pound price for the entire weight of all copies to all zones Per Piece Charge Piece prices apply to each addressed piece, based on the sortation done by the publisher. An addressed piece can be a single individually addressed copy, a bundle of unaddressed copies with a single delivery address for the bundle, or a firm bundle containing unaddressed or individually addressed copies for the same address. The per piece charge is based on the number of addressed pieces (not the number of copies) Discounts Discounts and reductions apply as specified in 2.0, 10.0, and Applying Outside-County Bundle Prices [ ] For Outside-County mail prepared in bundles, mailers pay the bundle price according to the presort level of the bundle and the presort level of the container that the bundle is placed in or on. Firm bundles pay a firm bundle price that is based only on the presort level of the container. Bundle prices do not apply to barcoded letter-size mail prepared in full letter trays or to flat-size mail prepared in flat trays under the optional tray preparation in 22.7 and The bundle prices are in addition to the container prices. The following additional standards apply: a. Bundles of fewer than six pieces under (including single-piece bundles) must each pay the applicable bundle charge. b. For bundles with both In-County and Outside-County pieces, mailers do not pay the bundle charge for carrier route and 5-digit/scheme bundles.

7 Periodicals: Price Application and Computation Applying Outside-County Container Prices [ ] For Outside-County mail prepared in trays, sacks, pallets, and other USPS-approved containers, mailers pay the container price according to the type of container, the presort level of the container, and where the mail is entered. The container level is determined by the least-finely presorted bundle that container could contain according to standards (for example, a "5-digit metro pallet" may contain 3-digit and/or 5-digit bundles and would always pay the 3-digit/SCF pallet price). For mailer-supplied air freight containers, mailers pay the container charge based on the original presort of the mail before it is transferred to the airfreight container. The container prices are in addition to the bundle prices. The following additional standards apply: a. For mailings prepared in trays or sacks, mailers pay the container price for each tray or sack based on container level and entry. b. For mailings prepared on pallets under : 1. For bundles placed directly on pallets, mailers pay the container price for each pallet. 2. For trays or sacks on pallets, mailers pay the container price for each tray or sack, and not for the pallets. The container price for each tray or sack is based on the tray or sack level and where the pallet is entered. c. For containers with both In-County and Outside-County pieces, mailers do not pay the container price for carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, and 5-digit/scheme pallets, sacks, and trays. 2.2 Computing Postage Percentage of Advertising The percentage of advertising shown on the postage statement must be based on the marked copy of the corresponding issue or edition provided as required. If necessary, round off the computed percentage of advertising to two decimal places. Advertising percentages also may be calculated through the Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Program using the procedures in 16.0, Postage Payment, and 17.0, Documentation Weight Per Copy To determine the weight per copy, select and weigh a random sample of 10 or more copies and divide the total sample weight by the number of pieces in the sample. Express the weight per copy in decimal pounds rounded off to four decimal places. Per-copy weights also may be calculated through the Periodicals Accuracy, Grading, and Evaluation (PAGE) Program using the procedures in 16.0 and Computing Other Weights To find the total weight of mailed copies per zone or price level, multiply the corresponding number of copies by the computed weight per copy. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the advertising portion for each zone, where applicable, multiply the total weight of copies for that zone by the percentage of advertising. Round off each result to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is under 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound. To find the weight of the nonadvertising

8 707 Periodicals: Price Application and Computation portion, subtract the total weight of the advertising portion to all zones from the total weight of copies to all zones. To find the weight of In-County price copies, multiply the number of copies by the weight per copy and round off the total weight to the nearest whole pound, except that when the result is less than 0.5 pound, round to 1 pound Pound Price To compute the pound price postage for Regular and Preferred Outside-County copies, multiply the weight of the advertising and nonadvertising portions by the corresponding prices, add the unrounded results, and subtract all applicable discounts. To compute the pound price postage for In-County price copies, multiply their total weight by the corresponding price per pound Piece Price [ ] Determine the piece price postage as follows: a. Outside-County. Multiply the number of copies by the appropriate price, based on the criteria in 2.1.2a. For firm bundles, multiply the number of firm bundles by the firm bundle piece price. b. In-County. Multiply the number of addressed pieces (not copies) by the appropriate price, based on the presort of the pieces as mailed. An addressed piece can be a single individually addressed copy or a firm bundle containing multiple copies for the same address Nonadvertising Adjustment To compute the nonadvertising adjustment (where applicable), subtract the advertising percentage from 100, multiply the remainder by the nonadvertising adjustment per piece, multiply the unrounded product by the number of pieces, and round off the product to four decimal places Outside-County Bundle and Container Charges [ ] The Outside-County bundle charge is the sum of the number of bundles for each bundle level and container level in the mailing subject to the Outside-County bundle prices (see 1.1.3), multiplied by the applicable bundle prices. The Outside-County container charge is the sum of the number of containers for each container type, container level, and entry level in the mailing subject to the Outside-County container prices (see 1.1.4), multiplied by the applicable container prices. Mailers must document the number of bundles and containers required for the prices claimed. If the documentation shows more bundles and containers are required than are presented for mailing, the mailer must pay the charges according to the documentation. Mailers cannot reduce the bundle and container charges by preparing fewer bundles and containers than standards require. Mailers who prepare Periodicals publications as a combined mailing by merging copies or bundles of copies under 27.0 may pay the Outside-County bundle and container charges in one of the following ways: a. On one publisher's Form b. On one consolidated Form Under this option, the consolidator must complete the appropriate sections of the form and pay the charges from the consolidator's own advance deposit account.

9 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility c. Apportioned on each publisher's Form The following standards apply: 1. The qualification report must be submitted electronically via Mail.dat. See for additional documentation requirements. 2. The total charges on all Form 3541s in a combined mailing must equal the total charges for all bundles and containers subject to the Outside-County container prices presented for mailing. 3. Apportion the bundle charge for each title or edition by determining how many of each type of bundle that title or edition is in. Next calculate the percentage of copies in each of those bundles and convert to four decimal places, rounding if necessary (for example, convert % to ). Add the decimal values for each type of bundle in the mailing and multiply the total by the applicable bundle price in Add the bundle charges to determine the total for each title or edition. 4. Apportion the container charge for each title or edition by determining how many of each type of container that title or edition is in. Next calculate the percentage of copies in each of those containers and convert to four decimal places, rounding if necessary (for example, convert % to ). Add the decimal values for each type of container in the mailing and multiply the total by the applicable container price in Add the container charges to determine the total for each title or edition Total Postage [ ] Total Outside-County postage is the sum of the per pound and per piece charges, the bundle charges, the container charges, and any Ride-Along and Repositionable Notes charges; minus all discounts; rounded off to the nearest whole cent. Total In-County postage is the sum of the per pound and per piece charges, and any Ride-Along and Repositionable Notes charges, less all discounts, rounded off to the nearest whole cent. 3.0 Physical Characteristics and Content 3.1 Physical Characteristics General See 201 for the physical characteristics for letter-size Periodicals, 301 for flat-size Periodicals, and 401 for parcel-size Periodicals. 3.2 Addressing General Each addressed piece, including the top copy of a firm bundle, must bear the addressee s name and address. The address must include the correct ZIP+4 code or 5-digit ZIP Code Address Label White or other light-colored paper must be used for the address label. To identify the mailpiece as Periodicals, the mailer may place, vertically along the left-hand side of the label, a 1/4-inch or narrower strip of solid pink or of pink PER characters.

10 707 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility Address Placement The delivery address must be clearly visible on or through the outside of the mailpiece, whether placed on a label or directly on the host publication, a component, or the mailing wrapper. If placed on the mailing wrapper, the address must be on a flat side, not on a fold (see Exhibit 3.2.4). If a polybag is used, the address must not appear on a component that rotates within the bag, and the address must remain visible throughout the addressed component s range of motion Return Address The return address must appear on any mailing wrapper that is endorsed Address Service Requested. Exhibit Address Placement for Periodicals Address placements on back cover of periodical Mr John A Sample 99 Oak St Anytown WA Back of Periodical Front of Periodical Mr John A Sample 99 Oak St Anytown WA Mr John A Sample 99 Oak St Anytown WA Mr John A Sample 99 Oak St Anytown WA Binding or fold Address placements on front cover of periodical 3.3 Permissible Mailpiece Components Pages Pages are the printed sheets forming the publication or one of the mailpiece s components, bearing advertising, nonadvertising, or both, including pages with text and graphics, blank spaces for writing or marking, and material to be completed or used by the reader. A minor portion of the pages in a Periodicals mailpiece may have unusual characteristics, such as a different size, shape, or construction, or portions that may be wholly or partially separable, and pages prepared for folding out. No page may have dimensions (when folded, if folded) that exceed the dimensions of the publication. Pages are also subject to these standards:

11 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility a. Multilayer pages (including pages formed by sheets glued together and pages that have unusual shapes, such as cutouts, movable flaps, or pop-ups ) may include small amounts of fastening material such as grommets, string, or rubber bands as needed to assemble the page. Multilayer pages may also be formed as pouches or pockets but may contain only permissible loose enclosures (see 3.3.4) or other securely affixed permissible components. b. Multiple pages may be held together by staples or other means separate from and in addition to the regular binding of the publication. c. Oversized pages may be used for illustrations, charts, maps, and other advertising and nonadvertising content Parts and Sections Parts and sections are pages that are physically separate subdivisions of the publication, as identified by the publisher. Each part or section must show the publication title, and the number of parts or sections in the issue must be stated on the cover of the first part or section. Parts or sections produced by someone other than the publisher may not be mailed at Periodicals prices if these parts or sections are prepared by or for advertisers or if they are provided to the publisher free or at a nominal charge. On request, the publisher must submit contracts entered into with producers of parts or sections Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Prices Material paid at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail prices may be enclosed in a Periodicals mailpiece subject to these conditions: a. The total weight of all enclosed Standard Mail material must be less than 16 ounces. b. Postage and fee payment is subject to and and A permit imprint that may appear on a First-Class Mail or Standard Mail enclosure must not be visible when the mailpiece is prepared for mailing. c. When enclosing nonincidental First-Class Mail or any Standard Mail, combination envelopes or containers with separate parts for the two classes of mail may be used. If both the sender s and addressee s names and addresses are not on both pieces, the sender s name and address must be placed on one piece and the addressee s name and address on the other. Combination containers with inseparable parts may bear the names and addresses on only one part. d. The applicable First-Class Mail Enclosed or Standard Mail Enclosed marking must be placed on or in the host publication if it contains any nonincidental First-Class Mail or any Standard Mail enclosure. See Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Prices [ ] Only the following material may be included loose as an enclosure in a Periodicals mailpiece and be paid at Periodicals prices, subject to the corresponding conditions: a. An incidental First-Class Mail piece must be closely related but secondary to the Periodicals publication with which it is enclosed. If the publication otherwise consists entirely of nonadvertising material, an incidental First-Class Mail

12 707 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility enclosure may be treated as nonadvertising material. In all other cases, an incidental First-Class Mail enclosure is considered part of the advertising portion of the publication. Examples of an incidental First-Class Mail enclosure are a bill for the publication, a statement of account for past publication purchases, or a personal message or greeting included with the publication. b. A receipt, request, or order for a subscription may be printed or written; prepared as a reply mail card or envelope for any authorized Periodicals publication (or a publication pending Periodicals authorization); or inserted in an envelope within the publication. The receipt or request may be part of, or accompanied by, printed material containing information related exclusively to a receipt or request or order for a subscription provided the printed material does not advertise, promote, or offer for sale other products or services. c. A card or form for the recipient s use in providing address correction information to the publisher may be printed or written; prepared as a card or envelope, including business reply, or as a combination form for two or more Periodicals publications issued by the same publisher; inserted in an envelope that is attached to, bound in, or loose within the publication; or prepared as a detachable part of another permissible enclosure. d. A publisher's printed letter, including facsimile signature as a permissible loose enclosure with a Periodicals publication provided the printed letter is limited to the publisher promoting the publication; or announcing or describing changes to the publication, e.g. title, format, frequency, terms or conditions of a subscription; or other business of the publication, as long as the printed letter includes no other advertising for the publisher or any other party. e. Enclosures listed in 3.3.4b and 3.3.4c are not counted when determining the percentage of advertising in the publication, but they are included in the total weight of the publication reported on the postage statement Supplement A supplement is one or more pages (subject to 3.3.1) formed by one or more printed sheets that are not bound into a publication. A supplement may be devoted to a single topic and may contain material different from that in the host publication. The external dimensions of a supplement (its length and height) may not exceed those of the host publication except when the host publication and the supplement are contained in an envelope, polybag, or other complete wrapper. Supplements are also subject to these conditions as applicable: a. A loose supplement to a bound Periodicals publication must contain at least 25% nonadvertising material and bear the endorsement Supplement to followed by the title of the publication; the name of the publisher; or Periodicals Publication. A bound publication with one or more supplements must be enclosed in a wrapper. If a supplement to a bound publication is formed of more than one sheet, all sheets making up the supplement must be bound together. b. A supplement to an unbound publication must be combined with and inserted within the publication under If the supplement is included loose outside the unbound publication, the publication and its supplement must be enclosed

13 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility in a wrapper or envelope, and the supplement must bear the endorsement Supplement to followed by the title of the publication; the name of the publisher; or Periodicals Publication Cover and Protective Cover A cover may be placed on the outside of a Periodicals publication. A protective cover is an additional cover placed around the outside of a publication; preparation is subject to Advertising, nonadvertising, or both may be printed on the cover or protective cover. The cover and protective cover on a publication are included when measuring advertising percentage. Nothing may be attached to the cover or protective cover except as permitted under 3.3.8, Attachment Mailing Wrapper A mailing wrapper is an envelope, sleeve, partial wrapper, or polywrap used to enclose the mailpiece. Advertising may be printed on the mailing wrapper and is included when measuring advertising percentage. Nothing may be attached to the mailing wrapper except as permitted under Attachment [1-3-08] Mailers may attach the following material to a cover, protective cover, or mailing wrapper of a publication: a. Stickers of any size and shape. b. Material allowed as a loose enclosure described in 3.3.3, Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Prices, or 3.3.4, Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Prices. When nonincidental First-Class Mail and/or Standard Mail enclosures (see 3.3.3) are attached, the marking First-Class or Letter Enclosed must be on a First-Class Mail attachment; Standard or STD, on a Standard Mail attachment. c. Material normally allowed within the contents of the publication composed of advertising, nonadvertising, or a combination of both may be attached to the cover or protective cover only when the publication and attached material are enclosed in a wrapper or prepared under No portion of the publication title may be obscured Printed Addition Only the following may be printed on a copy of a Periodicals publication after it is printed or placed on its cover, protective cover, or mailing wrapper: a. The name and address of the intended recipient or of the publisher or sender. b. The printed title of the publication and its place of publication. c. The expiration date of the subscription. d. The request for address correction information from the addressee. e. The words Sample Copy (if the copy is a sample), Marked Copy (if the copy contains a marked item or article), or Address Service Requested (if the copy is to be returned to the sender if undeliverable as addressed). f. The number of copies enclosed in a bundle (on the outside of the bundle) or a bundle count such as 2 of 4 (on the bundle wrapper).

14 707 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility g. Corrections of typographical errors or a mark, except by written or printed words, to call attention to a word or passage. h. Printed messages not required to be mailed as First-Class Mail or Express Mail Label Carrier A label carrier may be used to carry the delivery address for the mailpiece and must consist of a single unfolded, uncreased sheet of card or paper stock, securely affixed to the cover of the publication or large enough so that it does not rotate inside the wrapper, subject to these conditions: a. The label carrier must include the following elements: 1. The title of the Periodicals publication or the name and address of the publisher. Mailers may also include incidental graphics of the host Periodicals publication, other Periodicals publications of the publisher, or Periodicals publications of one or more affiliates or subsidiaries of the publisher (or any combination thereof), provided that all of the publications are under common 100% ownership. If such graphics are used they are treated as advertising, and mailers must use an area no larger than 3 inches by 5 inches to show the title of the Periodicals publication or the name and address of the publisher and the graphic or graphics. 2. The Periodicals imprint Periodicals Postage Paid at... or the word Periodicals in the upper right corner of the address side (unless Periodicals is printed on the address side of the polybag). 3. The address to which the mailpiece can be returned if undeliverable, if endorsed Address Service requested. b. The label carrier may bear a request for address correction from the addressee. It also may bear information about requesting or subscribing to any Periodicals publication (or a publication pending Periodicals authorization), including a request or subscription form. c. As applicable, the label carrier may show the endorsement First-Class Mail Enclosed, Standard Mail Enclosed, or Ride-Along Enclosed, or the permit imprint used to pay postage for the First-Class Mail or Standard Mail enclosure if that permit imprint is below the Periodicals imprint or the word Periodicals. d. Other printed information, whether advertising or nonadvertising, is permitted only on the back of the label carrier and is subject to measurement and postage payment accordingly. Incidental text calling attention to information on the reverse, or to information within the contents of the Periodicals publication, may be placed on the front of the label carrier. If any information referred to on the reverse of the label carrier or within the contents of the Periodicals publication is advertising, the incidental text on the front also is treated as advertising. 3.4 Impermissible Mailpiece Components General Regardless of preparation or characteristics, the materials described in through are not eligible for Periodicals prices.

15 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility Prohibited Material Material that contains any one of the following printed items or that is referred to in a component of the Periodicals mailpiece (by the use of one of these items) is ineligible to be mailed at Periodicals prices: a. A separate price or subscription instructions different from those of the host publication. b. The word catalog. c. A First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, Parcel Select, or Package Services permit imprint. d. An ISBN (International Standard Book Number). e. An ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) or USPS number different from that of the host publication Products Products may not be mailed at Periodicals prices. Examples include stationery (such as pads of paper or blank printed forms); cassettes; floppy disks; merchandise; envelopes containing enclosures, other than receipts, orders for subscriptions, and incidental First-Class Mail material; and wall, desk, and blank calendars. Printed pages, including oversized pages and calendars, are not considered products if they are not offered for sale Package Services and Parcel Select Neither Package Services or Parcel Select mail pieces may be combined with a Periodicals publication Nonprinted Sheets Any matter not formed of printed sheets (except as permitted under 3.3.1a) is not eligible for Periodicals prices. 3.5 Mailpiece Construction Bound/Unbound Publications may be prepared in either a bound or unbound form, with or without wrappers unless required by A bound publication is a publication in which pages are securely held together by two or more staples, spiral binding, glue, stitching, or other permanent fastening. All other publications are unbound, including folded multisheet and single-sheet publications and those in which pages are loose and collated ( nested ) or in which pages are held together by a single staple Size and Weight [ ] Periodicals mail may not weigh more than 70 pounds or measure more than 108 inches in length and girth combined. Additional size and weight limits apply to letters and machinable and nonmachinable flat-size pieces.

16 707 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility Uniformity Flat-size pieces must remain uniformly thick. Cover attachments, tabbed or glued half covers, flat-surfaced ride-along enclosures, loose subscription materials, and flat-surfaced enclosures of other classes may be included as long as the overall uniform thickness of the flat is maintained Without Mailing Wrapper When the mailpiece does not have a mailing wrapper, all the components of an unbound publication must be combined with and inserted inside the publication. Only enclosures mailable at Periodicals prices under may be included loose inside a bound unwrapped publication. An enclosure under 3.3.3, Enclosures at First-Class Mail or Standard Mail Prices, or 3.3.4, Loose Enclosures at Periodicals Prices, or a single sheet prepared as an attachment under 3.3.8c, may be securely attached along the bound edge on the outside of an unwrapped publication if it does not exceed any dimension of the cover of the publication and comes within 3/4 inch of the edge opposite the fold or binding With Mailing Wrapper Except as provided in 3.3.5, Supplement, when the mailpiece is completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper, the components may be placed anywhere within that wrapper. When a sleeve or other partial wrapper is used, the components must be secured so that they do not fall out during handling. Bound publications carrying loose supplements or prepared in physically separate parts or sections must be either completely enclosed in an envelope, plastic wrapper (polybag), or paper wrapper or inserted within a sleeve so that the component parts do not become separated while in the mail Cover Page and Protective Cover If the piece is not completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper, then any protective cover or cover page must cover both the front and back of the host publication and extend to within at least 3/4 inch of the edge opposite the fold or binding. Exception: Flat-size pieces may have short covers as provided in If the host publication is bound, the protective cover must be permanently attached to the publication APO/FPO Copy Any single copy of an unbound publication that includes any enclosure, supplement, or more than one part or section and that is mailed to an APO/FPO address must be completely enclosed in a mailing wrapper Postal Inspection Periodicals mail must be prepared so that it can be easily examined. The mailing of publications at Periodicals postage prices represents consent by the sender to USPS inspection of the contents whether loose or inserted in envelopes, wrappers, or other covers. Mailers who want to ensure that publications are not opened for postal inspection must pay First-Class Mail prices and mark such mail accordingly.

17 Periodicals: Physical Characteristics and Content Eligibility Printed Features Publication Title and Address Notice The publication title must be displayed prominently on the publication and any protective cover. The title or the name and address of the publisher must be displayed prominently on any opaque mailing wrapper. The publication title, followed immediately by the USPS publication number (or ISSN if one has been assigned), and the mailing address to which undeliverable copies or change-of-address notices are to be sent may be shown in the upper left corner of the address side of a mailing wrapper or directly on the outside of the host publication if it can be read when the mailing wrapper is in place. The publication number includes an alpha prefix and is to be within parentheses, for example, THE NATIONAL WEEKLY (ISSN X) or THE COMMUNITY (USPS ) Periodicals Imprint Mailing wrappers that completely enclose the host publication must bear the Periodicals imprint Periodicals Postage Paid at... or the word Periodicals in the upper right corner of the address area. If a clear plastic wrapper is used, those words may appear anywhere on the address side of the wrapper or the topmost item inside Advertising Advertising may be printed on the pages of any component of a publication, subject to the corresponding standards. Regardless of location, an advertisement must be prepared as an integral part of the publication. Except for advertisements in supplements, all advertisements in a bound publication must be permanently attached. Except as provided in 3.3.4e, all advertising must be included in the advertising portion of the issue measured under 16.0 and Different advertising may occupy the same space in different editions of the same issue Marking of Paid Reading Matter Under 18 USC 1734, if a valuable consideration is paid, accepted, or promised for the publication of any editorial or other reading matter in a Periodicals publication, that matter must be plainly marked advertisement by the publisher. When a single item of paid editorial or other reading matter occupies more than one page, it need only be marked advertisement on the first page. The word advertisement may be included in a statement that explains why the material is marked advertisement. Such a statement must be prominent on the first page of the material and the word advertisement in the statement must be in bold or italicized print or otherwise emphasized so that it can be plainly seen. Editors or publishers who print such matter without plainly marking it advertisement are subject to a fine of not more than $500.

18 707 Periodicals: Basic Eligibility Standards Basic Eligibility Standards 4.1 Second-Class Mail On July 1, 1996, Second-Class Mail was renamed Periodicals. 4.2 Qualification Categories All Periodicals publications must be authorized Periodicals mailing privileges under one of five qualification categories (general publications, publications of institutions and societies, publications of state departments of agriculture, requester publications, and foreign publications). These publications are subject to the general standards below and the standards for each respective category. 4.3 General Only newspapers and periodical publications meeting the mailability standards in 601 and the general and applicable specific standards in 4.0 through 15.0 and 29.0 may be authorized mailing at the Periodicals prices. 4.4 Periodical Publications Definition and Characteristics For Periodicals purposes, periodical publication or periodical is one published at a stated frequency with the intent to continue publication indefinitely, with these characteristics: a. The continuity of the periodical must show from issue to issue. Continuity is shown by serialization of articles or by successive issues carrying the same style, format, theme, or subject matter. b. The primary purpose of the periodical must be the transmission of information. c. The content of the periodical may consist of original or reprinted articles on one topic or many topics, listings, photographs, illustrations, graphs, a combination of advertising and nonadvertising matter, comic strips, legal notices, editorial material, cartoons, or other subject matter. d. The primary distribution of each issue must be made before that of each succeeding issue Other Publication Types The following types of publications also qualify as periodical publications: a. Any catalog or other course listing (including mail announcements of legal texts that are part of post-bar admission education) issued by any institution of higher education or by a nonprofit organization engaged in continuing legal education. b. Any loose-leaf page or report (including any index, filing instruction, table, or sectional identifier that is part of such report) designed as part of a loose-leaf reporting service on developments in the law or public policy. c. Any transportation guide containing schedules, fares, and related information.

19 Periodicals: Basic Eligibility Standards Restriction Material that has been, or is intended to be, distributed primarily as a book may not be converted into an issue of a periodical by merely placing a periodical s title on it, placing the material within a periodical s cover, or using similar superficial methods. This restriction does not prohibit excerpts or condensations of books from being proper subject matter for periodicals. 4.5 Printed Sheets Periodicals publications must be formed of printed sheets. Sheets may be die cut or deckle-edged and may be made of paper, cellophane, foil, or other similar materials. They may not be reproduced by stencil, mimeograph, or hectograph. Reproduction by any other process is permitted. Any style of type may be used. 4.6 Known Office of Publication Location The publisher of a Periodicals publication must maintain a known office of publication at the location where the original entry for Periodicals mailing privileges is authorized Purpose The known office of publication must be a public office for transacting the business of the publication during normal business hours. It must also be the office where the publication s circulation records are kept or can be available for USPS examination. 4.7 Regular Issuance Frequency Each Periodicals publication must be issued at a regular frequency of at least four times a year Statement of Frequency The publisher must adopt a statement of frequency showing how many issues are to be published each year and at which regular intervals (for example: daily; weekly; quarterly; four times a year in January, February, October, and November; weekly during school year; monthly except during July and August) Compliance With Frequency All issues must be published regularly as called for by the statement of frequency. To change the number of issues scheduled or the statement of frequency, the publisher must file an application for reentry. If a publication does not maintain regular issuance according to its stated frequency, even after USPS notice, the PCSC revokes the publication s Periodicals mailing privileges. 4.8 Eligible Formats Complete Copies Complete copies of the regular issues of a Periodicals publication may be mailed at the applicable Periodicals prices. Incomplete copies (for example, those lacking pages or parts of pages) are subject to the applicable First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or Package Services prices.

20 707 Periodicals: Basic Eligibility Standards Issues Issues and Editions Issues and editions of a Periodicals publication may be mailed at the applicable Periodicals prices if they show continuity and meet the applicable standards in 4.9, Issues, or 4.10, Editions Regular Issues Regular issues must be published according to the publication s stated frequency. The publication of regular issues of general and requester publications must be reflected in the publication s identification statement and (where applicable) in the subscription price. For requester publications, copies must be distributed to requesters Extra Issues Extra issues, not shown in the publication s stated frequency, published for communicating news and information received too late for insertion in the regular issue, but not for advertising purposes, may be mailed occasionally at Periodicals prices. The original entry post office must receive written notice of these issues before they are mailed Content Issues may include annual reports, directories, buyers guides, lists, and similar material prepared as part of the content if copies of these issues bear the publication title and are included in the regular subscription price Mailing Issues Same Day For determining Periodicals eligibility and postage, an issue of a newspaper or other periodical that is published at a regular frequency, more often than once a month, on the same day as another regular issue of the same publication, is deemed to be a separate publication that must independently meet the applicable standards for Periodicals mailing privileges if: a. More than 10% of the total copies of the issue is distributed on a regular basis to nonsubscribers or nonrequesters. b. The number of copies of the issue distributed to nonsubscribers or nonrequesters is more than twice the number of nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies of the other issue distributed on that same day Mailing Issues Different Day For determining Periodicals eligibility and postage, an issue of a newspaper or other periodical that is published at a regular frequency, more often than once a month, but not on the same day as another regular issue of the same publication, is deemed to be a separate publication that must independently meet the applicable standards for Periodicals mailing privileges if: a. More than 10% of the total copies of the issue is distributed on a regular basis to nonsubscribers or nonrequesters.

21 Periodicals: Basic Eligibility Standards Editions b. The number of copies of the issue distributed to nonsubscribers or nonrequesters is more than twice the number of nonsubscriber or nonrequester copies of any other issue distributed during the period between the distribution of each of the issues whose eligibility is being examined Types Issues mailed at Periodicals prices may be prepared in editions (such as demographic or morning). Subscribers and requesters must not routinely receive more than one edition of any issue Extra Editions Extra editions may be mailed at Periodicals prices to communicate news and information received too late for the regular edition. Extra editions may not be intended for advertising Content Editions may differ in content, but not so much that they constitute separate and independent publications. A separate publication is not acceptable as an edition of another publication Back Issues and Reprints Periodicals prices may be paid on mailings of unbound back issues (if the publication s Periodicals entry is in effect), reprint copies of daily publications printed within 1 week of the issue date, and reprint copies of other than daily publications printed before the next issue is printed. Other mailings of back issues or reprint copies, including permanently bound back issues or reprint copies, are subject to the applicable First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or Package Services prices Identification Title The publication title must be shown on the front or cover page in a position and in a type style and size that distinguish the title from the publisher s name or other items Identification Statement An identification statement, in an easily read type, must be included in all copies of publications authorized Periodicals mailing privileges and in all copies mailed pending approval of Periodicals mailing privileges Unbound Publication In an unbound publication, the identification statement must be shown conspicuously in one of the following places: a. On one of the first five pages. b. On the table of contents page. c. In the masthead on the editorial page, if the location of the editorial page is shown in the table of contents on the front page of the publication.